Annals of a Quiet Neighbourhood eBook

I said, “Thank you, my darling,” and I
ate them up every one of them, that he might see me
eat them before he left the house. And the dear
child went off radiant.

If anybody cannot understand why I did so, I beg him
to consider the matter. If then he cannot come
to a conclusion concerning it, I doubt if any explanation
of mine would greatly subserve his enlightenment.
Meantime, I am forcibly restraining myself from yielding
to the temptation to set forth my reasons, which would
result in a half-hour’s sermon on the Jewish
dispensation, including the burnt offering, and the
wave and heave offerings, with an application to the
ignorant nurses and mothers of English babies, who
do the best they can to make original sin an actual
fact by training children down in the way they should
not go.

CHAPTER XII.

Theavenue.

It will not appear strange that I should linger so
long upon the first few months of my association with
a people who, now that I am an old man, look to me
like my own children. For those who were then
older than myself are now “old dwellers in those
high countries” where there is no age, only
wisdom; and I shall soon go to them. How glad
I shall be to see my Old Rogers again, who, as he taught
me upon earth, will teach me yet niore, I thank my
God, in heaven! But I must not let the reverie
which’ always gathers about the feather-end
of my pen the moment I take it up to write these recollections,
interfere with the work before me.

After this Christmas-tide, I found myself in closer
relationship to my parishioners. No doubt I was
always in danger of giving unknown offence to those
who were ready to fancy that I neglected them, and
did not distribute my favours equally. But
as I never took offence, the offence I gave was easily
got rid of. A clergyman, of all men, should be
slow to take offence, for if he does, he will never
be free or strong to reprove sin. And it must
sometimes be his duty to speak severely to those,
especially the good, who are turning their faces the
wrong way. It is of little use to reprove the
sinner, but it is worth while sometimes to reprove
those who have a regard for righteousness, however
imperfect they may be. “Reprove not a scorner,
lest he hate thee; rebuke a wise man, and he will love
thee.”

But I took great care about interfering; though
I would interfere upon request—­not always,
however, upon the side whence the request came, and
more seldom still upon either side. The clergyman
must never be a partisan. When our Lord was requested
to act as umpire between two brothers, He refused.
But He spoke and said, “Take heed, and beware
of covetousness.” Now, though the best of
men is unworthy to loose the latchet of His shoe,
yet the servant must be as his Master. Ah me!
while I write it, I remember that the sinful woman
might yet do as she would with His sacred feet.
I bethink me: Desert may not touch His shoe-tie:
Love may kiss His feet.